Helen MITCHELL born 1846 Strathdon and then...?

[tishgibbons]

Returning to family history brick walls after a long study break. I would really like to solve this particular one viewtopic.php?f=6&t=171&p=1513 - My g.g.grandfather had a sister Helen MITCHELL born 1846 Strathdon daughter of William MITCHELL (from Crathie) and Margaret GRASSICK (Chapelton). She had a son Charles MITCHELL born 31st May 1868 also in Strathdon. My last sighting of this pair was 1871 census - Helen is working as a Cook in Tullynessle & Forbes while her son Charles is in Strathdon with his grandmother, Margaret Grassick Mitchell. Family legend had it she went to Australia but I've never been able to prove that and there are reasons why this may not have been true.

Since 1871 no birth, death, marriage or census for either of them. Any ideas?

Tish

[paddyscar]

Hi Tish:

Hopefully Familysearch.org has something of interest.


Name: charles mitchell, Event: Birth, Place: Strathdon, Scotland, Event Range: 1868-1868, Mother Name: Helen Mitchell, Any Household Member: Margaret mitchell, Country:Scotland
Name: Charles Mitchell
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1891
Gender: Male
Age: 23
Birthplace: Aberdenshire
Registration District: Aberdeen
County: Aberdeenshire
Birth Year (Estimated): 1868
GS Film number: 208668

This also brings up records of emigration to the U.S. through Canada, but not necessarily related records.


Name: helen mitchell, Event: Birth, Place: strathdon, scotland, Event Range: 1846-1846, Mother Name: margaret mitchell, Any Household Member: charles mitchell, Country:Scotland
Name: Helen Mitchell
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1891
Gender: Female
Age: 45
Birthplace: Aberdenshire
Registration District: Peterhead
County: Aberdeenshire
Birth Year (Estimated): 1846
GS Film number: 208686

Might be worth a look.

Frances

[tishgibbons]

Frances - my gosh!! I'm on to Scotlands People straight away - will let you know - holding my breath!! Thank you!!!

[tishgibbons]

Frances

no luck I'm afraid - I'd already found and viewed each of those some years back - I think at this stage I've looked at every single Helen and Charles Mitchell in Scotland but can't find them. The Helen you found was born in Ellon, not Strathdon and the Charles was born in Aberedeen city and the mother's name is wrong.

Thanks anyway, the hunt continues ...

Tish

[paddyscar]

Have you had a look through the other records on FamilySearch.org? It's a free database and you might find something perhaps to connect with what you know. Is it possible that Helen married and Charles took on the name?

Frances

[tishgibbons]

Yes Frances, I'm presuming that's what happened but I've been unable to find a marriage for Helen - so frustrating!

Tish

[nelmit]

Hi Tish,

There is this family in 1881 at Dennistoun, Glasgow -

Gilbert McIntosh 33 born Dornoch
Ellen McIntosh 30 born Shathdon (Ancestry transcription )
Charles McIntosh 12 born Shathdon

A marriage is indexed at SP of a Gilbert McIntosh and Ellen Mitchell in 1872. Although her age is a bit out I think this could be your lady.

The family are in Newcastle on later census records. Looks like Ellen died there in 1905.

Regards,
Annette

[tishgibbons]

Annette - this is uncanny! My grand-uncle who tried tracing the family back in the 1960s or 70s by visiting Scotland, did say there was a McIntosh connection - but nothing specific. This is great - thank you so much! I'll check them out and let you know. I hardly dare hope!

Tish

[tishgibbons]

Not sure Annette - the age is a little off though she wouldn't have been the first in the family to be creative about her age - her brother was out by over 12 years when he married! The father's name is correct - William Mitchell- but he was a gamekeeper and not a gardener. The mother was Margaret Grassick but this cert says she was Stewart. Hmmm - so close, and yet...

I'll see if I can find an Ellen Mitchell born Strathdon to match her ... what do you think?

Tish

[tishgibbons]

Yep the only Mitchell female born in Strathdon between 1845 and 1854 is our Helen...